Like so many of our contemporaries we are in that stage of our lives where we’re asking ourselves, “What’s next?” What’s the next chapter in our lives, what’s the next company we’re going to create, what’s the next vacation we’ll take, what’s our next philanthropic effort, what’s the next milestone we want to achieve? We seem to be in a constant “what’s next” mode.

And that’s a good thing isn’t it? “What’s next” is the covenant we make with ourselves to grow and be our very best everyday. It’s a promise to our future and to those we love. It’s the spark that fuels our talents and dreams.

In a text exchange with my treasured, precious, and beautiful gal pal last night, I began to wonder if we ever ask ourselves the question, “What’s last?”

Below is the poignant and thought-provoking text I received from my angel of a friend while she kept vigil in her father’s hospice room:

My mother makes us all stay very quiet in here. I told my sister when I’m dying, I want everyone telling funny stories and laughing. Laughter is the thing I want to hear as I leave this world. Promise me that, will you?

As I was texting back my promise, she then sent this:

Or a good trash-talking Euchre game.

Well, there it was. I moved quickly from tears to laughter to clarity. If we know “what’s last” we know how we want to live each “what’s next” in our own lives.

If we’re clear about “what’s last” it can become the compass that guides our present and our future. If we can articulate in our own minds “what’s last,” it seems possible to increase life’s vibrancy while living with an inspired clarity.

May knowing your “what’s last” fill your “what’s next” with purpose, passion, laughter and a few good trash-talking Euchre games!